Robert Downey Jr. says there are no plans for IRON MAN 4

Plans. Marvel loves ’em. As was revealed not too long ago, the comic book film studio has actually plotted out all their movies all the way up to 2028. For realz, dawg. But it seems that their 14 year long gameplan doesn’t include the guy who is not only the star of their show, but who started it all.

Speaking to Variety, Robert Downey Jr. was asked about what was next for his character after next year’s team-up effort, The Avengers: Age of Ultron, to which the fan-favourite actor revealed that we shouldn’t be expecting another Tony Stark solo adventure anytime soon.

“There isn’t one in the pipe. No, there’s no plan for a fourth ‘Iron Man.’”

YET – let’s just be clear about that caveat. With the Iron Man franchise being Marvel’s biggest earner behind The Avengers, there’s just no way they’re putting the snarky Stark out to pasture. There has been talk over the years though, that with RDJ pushing the half-century mark soon, that he may just decide to hand over the repulsor beam to a younger actor. But that’s a decision that is apparently out of the star’s hands.

“I like that the idea is that it would be up to me, like I’m casting director for Marvel.”

With Marvel expanding their stable of characters all the time, they’re soon going to (if they haven’t already) reach saturation point when it comes to the amount of superhero movies you can churn out each year, and I’m pretty sure that they’re aware of this. The trinity of Iron Man, Captain America and Thor established the Marvel Cinematic Universe, but they cannot be expected to carry it forever. New blood like the Guardians of the Galaxy and Ant-Man have to step up. That’s not forgetting all the heroes Marvel is planning to introduce over the next few years on Netflix, like Daredevil, Luke Cage and Iron Fist.

All of this tells me that the old guard probably has one or two more solo movies in them, before they have to start passing the torch. But I just don’t see Marvel kicking all these pioneers out the door. What I can see, is Marvel bringing them back for the bigger team movies or dropping into other character’s films from time to time.

That is of course, unless I’m reading Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige and his ilk wrong, and they’re willing to throw all their fanboy principles out the window and milk this one into a dry husk. I mean, Tony Stark could probably design some high-tech wheelchair for him to ride around in, right?

A man of many passions - but very little sleep - I've been geeking out over movies, video games, comics, books, anime, TV series and lemon meringues as far back as I can remember. So show up for the geeky insight, stay for the delicious pastries.

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